help me set up a sump plzzz

[saltcreep1025]

Hello fellas... im wanting to set up a sump for my 35g tank... fowlr... Whats the basic stuff do i need to get it started?

also, if i put all the stuff like filters and protein skimmer in the sump tank will it work as well as if it was in the main tank?

do i want to put sand in the sump? some LR?

[BillyZ]

all you need to set up a sump is an overflow box, tubing, a tank (to act as the sump), level baffles (to besure your don't flood your main tank if the overflow stops working), and a pump to pump the sump water back to the main tank.

thats slightly overly simple description ) you can put all your equipment, filters, heaters, skimmers, etc in there and they will function just fine.

You can certainly put a DSB and LR in there (although you should then refer to it as a Refugium) you could also put some macro algae, such as any form of culerpa, in there and it will help control unwanted algae in your main tank.

[saltcreep1025]

ok thx u muchly!

few questions of course hehe... can u just buy an overflow box at a lfs?

do u need 2 pumps? one to pump in one to pump out?

what are level baffles?

that will be nice to put all that ugly stuff in the sump!

ahhh.... wondered what a refugium was.

macro algae???

[BillyZ]

hehe ok, some LFS may have overflow boxes, they're quite easy to find online. They are basically two plastic boxes that sit on the lip of your tank. One box in the water, one box on the outside of the tank with a U shaped tube that connects the two forming a siphon. The outter box has a drain in the bottom. As water is siphoned into the outter box gravity pulls it down to your sump so there is no need for a pump for this direction. A water level baffle is basicaly a piece of acrylic or glass in the sump tank that acts as a wall that is used so that if your overflow becomes clogged the pump in the sump doesn't try and drain the entire sump tank into the main tank and overflow onto your floor )

When shopping for pumps and overflow boxes etc, be sure your OVERFLOW is rated for a higher GPH than your pump. If the pump is rated higher than your overflow then it wont be able to keep up with the pump and you'll end up flooding.

Macro alge is a general term that basicaly refers to larger more complex forms of algae. Macro algae looks more like a plant than algae (but it's still algae) micro algae is the "carpet" types of algae, most of which are unwanted. Macro algaes are much better at absorbing the nutrients out of the water so they, "get them first" and therefore make it harder for the micro algaes to survive.

[BillyZ]

someone else, aslo asking about sumps, posted these links which i think are a great read for learning about sumps.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.htm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/gt/index.htm
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/gt/index.htm

[fishlips12]

BillyZ, sorry I am not picturing how a baffle will prevent you from overflowing the main tank. I thought the baffles purpose had something to do with the bubles that you are trying to prevent at the intake of the pump. Soon I would like to build my own sump so I am trying to get a good understanding of the basics.


Thanks

[saltcreep1025]

TY much for the info!!! i understand much better now =)

approximetely how much $$$ does it take to get a sump up and running?

also does the macroalgae need light?

thx again!!!

[BillyZ]

the cost will really depend on the size and what kind of things you want to put in it. And, of course, wether you buy a sump or make one out of a tank or something else.

macro algae does indeed need light. many folks actualy leave the lights for the refugiums on 24/7 as there is no fish just let the algae prosper!

[BillyZ]

I got your email, figured I'd reply here in case anyone else wanted to jump in...

I've attached a quick sketch of a sump I have in mind. I've never made one myself yet but this is basicaly what i'm picturing.

The dark blue line is the normal operating water line. The red line is where the water line would be if the overflow became plugged or stopped for some reason. The light blue lines are the baffles. The skimmer shown is if you were to use an in-tank skimmer (there's not much difference other than space/price)


I see two problems with my design...

1) as water evaporates, that could also drop the water level to the stopping point, you would have to keep up on your top-offs.

2) if the overflow stops, the pump would then "run dry" and could burn out depending on the pump... should probably use a float switch maybe?


anyone else have any thoughts?

[fishlips12]

Thanks that is perfect